When it comes to crafting your usual theme park filled with rollercoasters, carousels, and hot dog stands, it’s undeniably fun. But I’ve found that the most memorable tycoon games and theme park simulations offer something you won’t find anywhere else in the genre. Take Jurassic World Evolution—it’s a prime example of bringing a prehistoric twist to the classic formula. Yet, Mars Attracts, a new management game arriving in 2025, promises to be one of the genre’s most unusual adventures, and you’re about to get your first chance to dive into its peculiar world.
Mars Attracts made its quirky debut at Gamescom earlier this year, leaving many in disbelief. Picture a Planet Coaster-like experience, but set on Mars, centered around a long-forgotten intellectual property from a flashy ’90s movie flop. Remember Mars Attacks, the star-studded, dark comedy about an alien invasion? Well, it’s resurfacing 25 years later in the most unexpected form—a theme park sim, and it’s as peculiar as it sounds.
Now, don’t let the past movie debacle fool you into thinking Mars Attracts will be a flop. In this game, you’re tasked with building a theme park catering to Martian visitors. While you’ll have your typical rides, a major draw will be exhibits and enclosures housing abducted humans. Yes, this time, humans are the main attractions.
You’ll be snatching these unfortunate souls from notable times in history, ranging from Ancient Rome to the Wild West. Each person is unique, requiring enclosures tailored specifically for them. I mean, let’s be realistic—a fragile piece of Martian glass won’t hold a group of Roman gladiators, will it?
There’s also the choice to keep these humans either content and comfortable or to terrify them—yes, probing is indeed part of the fun. Either approach will amuse your alien guests.
While you’re busy crafting the ultimate Martian theme park, you’ll also have to manage its intricacies. The gameplay follows the usual tycoon loop we’ve come to expect, but since the game is early in its development, we’ve only seen one trailer. Who knows what surprises the developers have in store?
To lend a hand in shaping this delightfully odd management sim, you can participate in the first playtest launching soon. The Mars Attracts closed alpha playtest kicks off on Wednesday, December 4, with the full early access release planned for 2025.
If building and creating are your things, our guide to top building games is sure to pique your interest. Plus, for those eager to stretch their multitasking and management muscles, our carefully curated lists of the best strategy games won’t disappoint.
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